August 5, 2025

In a shocking incident near Kalyan, a 22-year-old farmer named Gaurav Nikam from Nashik experienced a horrific attack by a member of the infamous 'Phatka gang' while he was on the Tapovan Express train returning home from Thane. This occurred on a Sunday morning, specifically between Shahad and Ambivli railway stations. The attack happened when the train reduced its speed near Irani Pada, a location notorious for criminal activities. At that moment, Nikam was sitting by the train door while engaged in a phone call. Suddenly, a young boy from outside the train struck Nikam’s hand with a phatka—a stick or similar object—attempting to steal his mobile phone. The force of the blow caused Nikam to lose his balance and tragically fall from the moving train, where he suffered a severe injury, resulting in the partial amputation of his left leg under the train wheels. Despite being in great pain, the assailant, identified as a 16-year-old minor, approached Nikam after his fall and aggressively snatched his mobile phone along with Rs 20,000 in cash from his pocket. When Nikam tried to resist this theft, he was brutally assaulted. Fortunately, some bystanders witnessed this crime and quickly alerted the Kalyan Government Railway Police (GRP), who rapidly responded to the scene. Emergency medical help was arranged, and Nikam was rushed to the Railway Hospital in Kalyan for urgent treatment. Following the incident, the Kalyan GRP formulated three investigative teams and successfully apprehended the minor responsible for the attack in Irani Pada, Ambivli. Senior police inspector Pandari Kande stated that they have initiated a formal complaint against the suspect under sections 307 and 309(4) of the Bombay Nuisance Act, categorizing it as theft with preparation for causing serious injury or death and punishment for robbery, respectively. Irani Pada, located directly next to the Ambivli railway station tracks, has gained notoriety as a hotspot for theft and chain-snatching incidents over the years. According to GRP sources, although previous arrests had led to a temporary decrease in such incidents, criminal activities like these have unfortunately resumed, presenting ongoing safety concerns for commuters. This grim incident underscores the pressing need for enhanced security measures on trains and at railway stations to protect passengers from such violent crimes and ensure safer travel experiences for everyone.

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Tags: Phatka gang, Crime, Theft, Railway, Nashik, Kalyan, Robbery,